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Chapter 185
Chapter 185
“Bai, what do you think of these outfits?” Aaliyah asked, holding up two gowns against her body. “Blue or red?”
Bailey lifted her head from her phone. “You know I’m not as stylish as you are.”
Aaliyah’s forehead creased into a frown. “But I’m asking you. I know you’re not-
“Okay, sorry,” Bailey interrupted. “Try the blue. It’s subtle.”
“Well, thanks for nothing,” Aaliyah scoffed, tossing the red goown on the couch. “The blue is actually ugly.”
Bailey sighed. “My bad. Sorry.”
“It was a joke,” Aaliyah said.
“Yeah,” Bailey replied quietly, returning to her phone.
Since living with Aaliyah, Bailey had tried her best to avoid the obvious elephant in the room. She had even gotten used to the difference between private and public affection.
At home, they were lovers, inseparable, intimate, real. In public, they were just girl besties, showing no iota of emotion.
As sickening as it was, Bailey was willing to endure the torture. Oh, but she had a plan.
After dinner tonight, after her mother had finally met Aaliyah, she would pack her shit and move to a hotel. After all, everything was already paid for by work, she might as well enjoy it.
The thought eased her a little as she continued scrolling aimlessly through social media.
Her phone rang. It was her San Francisco partner.
“Hey, Quinn,” she said, smiling genuinely for the first time all day.
“Jones. Howdy, partner,” Special Agent Quinn greeted in his usual low voice.
“Nice. What’s good?”
“Just calling to let you know we got a hit on one of Mateo Castro’s accounts.”
Bailey sat upright, her senses sharpened. “I’m listening.”
“Eight hundred million dollars was removed from one of his dominant accounts,” Quinn said. “And before you ask, it’s been dormant for ten years.”
“Wow!” she exclaimed. “That’s a long time. What happened? Why take such an amount right now?”
“No idea,” Quinn admitted. “But I’m willing to find out. Our tech teams are working on tracing where the money went.”
“That’s a large sum of money,” Bailey muttered, scratching her head. A rush of adrenaline filled her.
“I know you’ve got the dinner tonight, which is why I’m handling this instead. I’ll find out everything and get back to you immediately as I do.
She raised a brow. “So I shouldn’t come?”
Quinn chuckled. “I’m saying you don’t have to. I’ve got you, partner.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she nodded even though he couldn’t see that. “Thank you, Quinn.”
Chapter 185
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your dinner. My regards to your lady.”
“And mine to your kids,” Bailey replied, ending the call.
Excitement surged through her, and she punched the air. “Yes, yes!”
She hadn’t expected progress this soon. But it y
Fueled by the news, she ran into the
great news, they were a step closer to taking Mateo Castro down.
share it with Aaliyah. “Babe! You won’t-” She paused.
Aaliyah was naked on the bed.
Bailey’s brow furrowed. “Why aren’t you dressed? We’re running late.”
“Oh, come on,” Aaliyah groaned, walking over. “Don”
want any of this?” She gestured to her body.
Of course Bailey did. Who wouldn’t want a woman with the body of a goddess? Aaliyah’s body was silky, beautiful, tempting, but Bailey knew better now.
She knew it was all an act. Once they did whatever they wanted to, Aaliyah would switch back to the cold, distant stranger in public, and Bailey’s heart couldn’t handle the rejection again.
She cleared her throat and turned away. “Get dressed, babe. We don’t want to keep everyone waiting.”
She didn’t wait to see Aaliyah’s reaction, though she heard the disappointed gasp as she left.
When she returned to the living room, all her excitement faded away. A few minutes later, Aaliyah came out dressed in the blue gown.
“I’m ready,” she said, walking to the door without waiting for Bailey.
Bailey didn’t say anything, she just simply followed and entered the car. As expected, they didn’t speak the entire ride to Silas’s house.
Silas saw them first as they stepped out of the car. “Hey, guys,” he called, his hazel eyes gleaming.
“Hey, handsome,” Aaliyah replied, hugging him.
If Bailey hadn’t grown up with Silas, she might have never believed Aaliyah’s story about experimenting with him.
“How are you, Si?” Bailey asked, hugging him too.
“I’m great,” Silas smiled. “I didn’t know you guys were coming.”
“Oh, I thought my mom told you,” Bailey said.
“She didn’t,” he replied, shaking his head. “Either way, you’re welcome. Thomas is coming for dinner too. You’ll see him.”
“That’s great.”
He led them into the house and toward the dining room.
“Let me tell everyone you’re here,” Silas said, then left.
When it was just the two of them, Bailey turned to Aaliyah. “You good?”
“Yeah,” Aaliyah said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Guilt twisted inside Bailey, but before she could speak, the door opened and a woman walked in. She was dressed in a black gown and Bailey didn’t recognize her until Aaliyah spoke.
“Ivy.” It was flat.
Chapter 185
“Hey, Aaliyah,” Ivy said with a sheepish smile, “Hey, Bailey.” She waved. “How are you?”
“Good,” Bailey replied.
“Good,” Aaliyah’s response was flat again.
Ivy stepped closer, her expression soft. “I’m sorry about today. I got really busy and I couldn’t-
“It’s fine,” Aaliyah cut her off..
Bailey’s eyes narrowed. What was going on?
“We can reschedule, I’m sure we can find the perfect time,” Ivy said with a wide smile.
But Aaliyah wasn’t interested in whatever it was, Bailey could tell from the way she shifted in her chair.
Bailey cleared her throat and stood up. “I’m… going to get my Mom.”
She left the room and went to look for Monica. She met her halfway down the hall.
“Bailey!” Monica exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. “You’re here.”
“I am,” Bailey said with a smile. “How are you?”
“I’m good. And you?”
“Great.”
“Is she here?” Monica asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Yes, she is.”
Bailey led her back to the dining room. Inside, Ivy and Aaliyah were mumbling to each other. When Bailey and Monica entered, they stopped talking.
Bailey’s cheeks turned red. “Aaliyah, this is my mother.”
Aaliyah stood, a nervous smile spread on her face as she extended her hand. “Nice to meet you,
Instead of shaking it, Monica pulled her into a warm hug. “It’s so lovely to meet you.”
ma’am.”
Bailey sighed. There. It was done. Now she wouldn’t feel guilty when she moved out of Aaliyah’s house.
“Let me go get the food.” Monica said, her voice light.
As she left, Theresa and Aria entered.
“Hey, Bailey!” they chorused.
They exchanged greetings and settled into their seats, Bailey noticed how Ivy suddenly shifted when Theresa spoke to her. Something about the whole interaction was odd.
Thankfully, Silas returned before it could linger.
“Hey, girls,” he greeted them all, but kissed his wife as he sat beside her.
Ivy seemed more relaxed around him.
“I feel weird being the only man here,” Silas joked.
2/1
UZ Mon,
Chapter 185
“Call Thomas again,” Ivy suggested.
“Yes,” he said, rising. “Excuse me.”
When he left, the room fell into awkward silence until Monica returned, followed by two older women carrying trays of food.
“Food is here,” Monica said in a singsong voice.
The tone softened Bailey’s heart, and she chuckled. The older women helped dish the food as Monica sat down with them.
Just as they were about to eat, Bailey’s phone rang. Aaliyah frowned at her as she reached for it.
Quinn was calling, and her heart skipped.
“It’s work,” Bailey said, standing up. “I have to take this.”
She stepped into the corridor and found a quiet balcony before answering.
“Hey, Quinn.”
“Sorry to disturb your dinner, Jones,” Quinn said apologetically. “But I’ve got news.”
Her heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. “Hit me.”
“We were able to find out where the money went.”
Her excitement spiked. They were getting closer to bringing Mateo Castro down.
“It was sent to an account under the name Celia Stone.”
Bailey’s stomach dropped. “What? That’s impossible.”
“What?” Quinn sounded alarmed. “You know her?”
Bailey bit her lip, her heart thudding against her ribs. “Yes. She’s Thomas and Silas Stone’s mother. And she’s dead. She died
